Live Updates: Iran accuses US of supporting Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

05:14 GMT - Iran accuses US of supporting Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that Israel "does not observe any red line in the genocide" against Palestine.

"We have all gathered today in the (UN) Security Council in a situation where the occupying and apartheid regime of Israel does not observe any red line in the genocide against Palestine in Gaza and the West Bank," Amir-Abdollahian told a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

The US, as the "practical supporter" of Israel, has prevented the Council from establishing a cease-fire in Gaza.

Despite the US repeatedly expressing its "grave concern" over this spillover of tension in the region, he said, it continues its full support for Israel and even violates the sovereignty of Yemen and expands the scope of the conflict.

"The United States must bear the responsibility for its consequences,” he said.

05:00 GMT - Israel kills dozens in new Gaza strikes — Palestine

Israeli air strikes have killed dozens of civilians and wounded others in different areas of besieged Gaza, particularly Khan Younis in the south, Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.

At least seven civilians, mostly women, were killed, and others were wounded after Israeli warplanes bombed a house in the Jabalia area, north of Gaza, the state-run news agency said.

Israeli air strikes also shelled a house belonging to the Zaml family, resulting in the killing of seven people, including five females, WAFA reported.

04:30 GMT - US says it struck two Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen

The US military has carried out more strikes in Yemen, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed at the Red Sea and were preparing to launch, the US military claimed in a statement.

The US strikes, which took place at roughly 2:30 am [2330 GMT], are the latest against the Iran-allied group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping, and followed a larger round of strikes a day earlier.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks on Israel-linked ships are in solidarity with besieged Palestinians as Israel pummels Gaza. The attacks have disrupted global shipping and deepened concern that fallout from the Israel's war on Gaza could destabilise the Middle East.

03:45 GMT - Israel's war on Gaza won't lead to peace or submission: Türkiye

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has slammed the international community for not stopping the war on besieged Gaza and voiced concern about the spillover effect of the war to the region.

"One hundred and nine days into the conflict, it is a shame that the international community is still unable to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza used to be an open prison. Now, it is a battleground where the Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] runs military operations for killing civilians to extend his political life," Fidan told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

"The argument that the current war is about providing security for Israel is far from being convincing. Yet, the proponents of this argument never talk about the security of the Palestinians nor Palestine's right to self-defence," said Fidan.

Stressing that Israel "commits serious war crimes," Fidan said those responsible must be held accountable to restore faith in international law and the rules-based order. Fidan stressed the need to avoid the geographical escalation of the war.

"Türkiye consistently warned about the risks of spill-over. Now, today, that risk has become a reality. Recent incidents in the Red Sea, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Pakistan are very, very alarming. This escalation has the potential to turn into a geostrategic vortex, from which no one can easily escape," he said.

The minister urged Israel and its supporters to seek a diplomatic solution while it is still achievable. "The ongoing war in Gaza and beyond cannot lead to peace nor to submission. We have a historical responsibility to stop this war," said Fidan.

"The future of Gaza is up to the Palestinians and Palestinians only. The only 'day-after' question that needs our attention is how we will be able to safeguard a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution on 1967 borders," he said.

03:00 GMT - UNSC member states continue to press for ceasefire

UN Security Council member states have continued to call for a ceasefire in besieged Gaza at a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Israel-Palestine conflict rooted in Israel's decades-old occupation of Palestinian lands.

Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, Mozambique, Indonesia, and China all called for a ceasefire during the meeting.

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi said, "The clock is ticking" and "Stop the massacre". Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed El Khereiji, said the priority was to alleviate the suffering and bring an end to the crisis in Palestine.

02:40 GMT - Gaza protesters repeatedly interrupt Biden abortion speech

Protesters chanting slogans against Israel's brutal war in besieged Gaza have repeatedly interrupted US President Joe Biden during an election campaign event to promote abortion rights.

Demonstrators held up a Palestinian flag and shouted around eight times during the speech in Manassas, Virginia, where Biden addressed an audience gathered to show their support in the next presidential elections.

02:20 GMT - France says 'full international community must be mobilised to rebuild Gaza'

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne has urged the international community to come together and contribute to the reconstruction of besieged Gaza.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, Sejourne described the situation in the Palestinian enclave as "tragic" and said "the full international community must be mobilised to rebuild Gaza."

"In light of what has been played out between Israelis and Palestinians, there are two options for this council," he said, citing those who choose division and those who choose to invade their neighbour, such as Ukraine, in the Middle East, and seek division rather than unity.

02:00 GMT - One-month Gaza truce focus of intensive talks — Reuters

Israel and Palestinian resistance group Hamas broadly agree in principle that an exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners could take place during a month-long ceasefire, but the framework plan is being held up by the two sides' differences over how to bring a permanent end to the Gaza war, three sources told Reuters news agency.

Intense mediation efforts led by Qatar and Egypt in recent weeks have focused on a phased approach to release different categories of Israeli hostages — starting with civilians and ending with soldiers — in return for a break in hostilities, the release of Palestinian prisoners and more aid to Gaza.

The latest round of shuttle diplomacy started on December 28 and has narrowed disagreements about the length of an initial ceasefire to around 30 days, after Hamas had first proposed a pause of several months, said one of the sources, an official briefed on the negotiations.

For our live updates from Monday, January 23, click here.